diff --git a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
index ce029b4f55..8fd5911ab5 100644
--- a/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/safe_mode/safe_mode.cpp
@@ -255,12 +255,17 @@ bool SafeModeComponent::should_enter_safe_mode(uint8_t num_attempts, uint32_t en
 }
 
 void SafeModeComponent::write_rtc_(uint32_t val) {
-  this->rtc_.save(&val);
-  global_preferences->sync();
+  if (!this->rtc_.save(&val)) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to set rtc value (%" PRIu32 ")", val);
+    return;
+  }
+  if (!global_preferences->sync()) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to persist rtc value (%" PRIu32 ")", val);
+  }
 }
 
 uint32_t SafeModeComponent::read_rtc_() {
-  uint32_t val;
+  uint32_t val = 0;
   if (!this->rtc_.load(&val))
     return 0;
   return val;
@@ -272,7 +277,9 @@ void SafeModeComponent::clean_rtc() {
   // before sync, the boot wasn't really successful anyway and the counter should
   // remain incremented.
   uint32_t val = 0;
-  this->rtc_.save(&val);
+  if (!this->rtc_.save(&val)) {
+    ESP_LOGE(TAG, "Failed to clear boot loop counter");
+  }
 }
 
 void SafeModeComponent::on_safe_shutdown() {